stringers

Tom,
How long you can run a boat with bad stringers depends on how bad they really are and how much damage you are willing to do to the boat. When they get real bad, the hull will flex and cause gel coat cracking. It also throws out the drive component alignment to the point that the trans will be damaged. I suggest you do some more stringer investigation. Look for the glass on the stringers cracking and coming off the wood. Some will tap the glass lightly with a hammer to listen. If you find any then a hole saw can be used to remove the glass from a few spots to check out the wood. If discolored and wet (the hole saw pilot drill will bring out borings too) then you need to seriously think about a stringer job.

I guess when buying this wooden stringer boats sooner or later you will end up with this kinda problems!! unless you pass the problem to unaware newbies who thought they had "solid rock floors"